Nov. 22, 2007

Complete Release in PDF Format

Last Time Out
South Carolina staged a furious comeback in the second half but could not hold off Penn State down the stretch, falling to the Lady Lions 70-63. A 12-point deficit became a two-point lead over an eight-minute span before Penn State broke a 54-54 tie at the 3:38 mark and scored 10 unanswered points for a 64-54 advantage with 1:25 remaining. Demetress Adams tied for game-high honors with 17 points for the Gamecocks, while Ilona Burgrova battled on the boards and secured a team-high 10.

Series Notes
The Gamecocks and Fighting Illini have never met, although South Carolina holds a 16-10 record against Big Ten teams. The Gamecocks have posted three wins against Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota and Penn State. South Carolina has played eight of the 11 teams in the Big Ten, holding a winning record against five of them. Only Ohio State and Purdue hold a series lead on the Gamecocks, while Penn State is 3-3 against Carolina.

Scouting the Illini
Illinois is off to a quick start under first-year head coach Jolette Law, who inherited an experienced squad that returns 87.4 percent of its scoring and 86.5 percent of its rebounding from last year’s WNIT third round team. Included in that group is sophomore Jenna Smith, who has recorded a double-double in three of Illinois’ four games this season. She averages 20.5 points and 12.3 rebounds while blocking a team-high 10 shots and handing out the second-most assists on the team (10).

Suddenly Susan
Head coach Susan Walvius enters her 11th season as the Gamecocks’ mentor with a 152-145 record. She has led South Carolina to two NCAA Tournaments and two WNITs, including an NCAA Elite Eight appearance in 2001-02. Her players have also excelled in the classroom. In 2006-07, 10 Gamecocks appeared on the SEC Winter Sports Academic Honor Roll. In the last four years, South Carolina has placed more student-athletes on that list than any other school.

A South Carolina Win Would …

• Put the Gamecocks at 4-1 on the season, matching last year’s start
• Be the Gamecocks’ first of the season away from the Colonial Center
• Improve the Gamecocks’ record against Big Ten teams to 17-10
• Give Susan Walvius a 13-8 record in regular-season tournaments
• Improve Susan Walvius’ record to 104-48 in regular-season games against non-conference opponents

Another Friendly Face
For the second time in three games, the Gamecocks will see an alum on the opponents’ bench. Illinois assistant coach Karen Middleton was a four-year letterwinner for the Gamecocks, playing 1988-1991. She helped the Gamecocks to four NCAA Tournament appearances and was a two-time All-Metro Conference selection. A prolific shooter in her time, Middleton holds the school record for 3-pointers made in a season (115, 1990-91) and a career (317). Additionally, she owns the four best single-season 3-point field goal percentages and the best 3-point accuracy in a career, hitting 44.5 percent (317-712) of her attemps from long range. Her 1,714 career points are the seventh-most in South Carolina history.

More Balance
After finishing the 2006-07 season without a single player averaging double-figure points, three Gamecocks are at that benchmark this season. Junior Demetress Adams’ 15.8 ppg leads the way with junior Brionna Dickerson just behind at 15.5. Senior Lakesha Tolliver rounds out the group with 10.3 ppg.

Old Number, New Beginning
After a modest beginning to her career wearing No. 32, this season junior Brionna Dickerson went back to the No. 23 jersey that saw her score 3,400 points in high school. Proof that “A Change Would Do You Good,” as Sheryl Crow has sung, Dickerson’s offense has exploded this season. Averaging 1.8 points and 6.1 points during her freshman and sophomore campaigns, respectively, Dickerson is second on the team with 15.5 ppg early this season. She opened with a career-best 17 points against Saint Francis (Pa.) on Nov. 6 then poured in 27 to guide the Gamecocks past Virginia on Nov. 15. Hitting just nine 3-pointers all of last season, she was 5-of-7 from long range against Virginia, including a perfect 5-of-5 in the first half.

Fresh Frosh
With six true freshmen on the roster this season, rookie guard Jordan Jones set the tone early. Behind 15 points in the first 13 minutes against Saint Francis, including four 3-pointers, Jones was named Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week for the period ending Nov. 11. Two other first-year players are having an immediate impact on the team. Courtney Newton leads the club with 15 assists, while Samone Kennedy is third on the team in assists (10) and steals (9).

Ms. Clutch
When the game is on the line, toss out the percentages and get the ball to Lakesha Tolliver. The senior began her reputation last season when, despite a 63.6 free throw shooting percentage, she drained three free throws with eight seconds left to tie Mississippi State, giving the Gamecocks the chance to pick up the overtime win. This season, on Nov. 15 against Virginia, South Carolina had one shot to win the game. Tolliver, who was 3-of-8 in the game and 6-of-17 on the season, drilled a 14-foot jumper with 1.3 seconds left to cap off a dramatic 25-7 run over the final 6:46 of the contest.

Double Double-Double
In the season opener against Saint Francis (Pa.), a pair of Gamecocks posted double-doubles for the second time in two seasons. Forwards Lakesha Tolliver and Demetress Adams accomplished the feat against the Red Flash, while Melanie Johnson and Ilona Burgrova turned the trick at Wilmington on Dec. 30, 2006. Prior to last season’s effort, the last Gamecock duo to record double-doubles was Iva Sliskovic and Cristina Ciocan against Southern Utah on Dec. 5, 2003.

High Fliers
With 93 points against Saint Francis (Pa.) in the season opener, the Gamecocks put up their highest offensive output since hanging 95 on Alabama on Jan. 14, 2007. South Carolina also won that game by 60 points, the largest margin of victory over an SEC opponent in the program’s history.